Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said:
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
Continue reading “Silence In The Face Of Evil Is Itself Evil”
Category: Worldview
Politics and… Please, Get Me Off This Ride!
Photos: Getty Images & ShutterStock , Illustration: Dillen Phelps
Do you remember the days of getting on that roller coaster ride and as it started to crank you up, up, up… You know that feeling you get in your stomach as the old wooden roller coaster clicks you up and the people below seem to be shrinking in size? You began to think and maybe even said out loud
… “Get me off this thing!!” Well, that describes this political season we find ourselves in as Americans. That moment you think, “can it get any worse”?…. And, sadly, it somehow does continue to grow worse. And, unfortunately, I fully expect the worst is yet to come. :-)
Continue reading Politics and… Please, Get Me Off This Ride!
!#&@?#%!
“I didn’t mean to say that….!”
Have you ever said something and wished you could get those words back? Of course you have, we all have; words spoken out of anger or disgust, words of pride, jealousy, or bitterness. If we are honest, these words flow all too fluently from our lips.
Grace, The God Who Is More
Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name
What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Bono, U2
All of life teaches us to earn. We earn a paycheck, a grade, or even a reward… all are based on our performance. Performance, Performance, Performance. When it comes down to it, our culture says, “This is what matters.” Parents, marriages, workplace, churches, and all the rest wraps itself in rewards. Society shouts performance. Evaluations by peers and evaluation of ourselves is all blanketed in performance.
And so, when we come to an understanding of grace, it is not surprising that we hiccup!
Have you heard?
Have you heard another company is threatening to pull its business operations in North Carolina? Have you heard that company has recently announced they will block North Carolina citizens from their business? Have you heard who the latest business is to protest HB2 (The public facilities privacy and security act)? I can’t make this stuff up!!
Warm and Fuzzy Politics!
Ahhhh, the political election season…. it just gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling, doesn’t it?!? Have you checked the headlines today? I have, but I will spare you by not posting them here!
A few thoughts for us as we navigate the chaos:
Gospel, Politics, And My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
It is that time again where we, here in America, are inundated with reasons to stay away from the mailbox, tv, and voicemail. Tis the season for empty promises, shallow arguments, and overused talking points. Do you remember the last time you took the time to read that shiny flyer in your mailbox? Neither do I, for it seems that the 30 seconds the flyer requires is far too big an investment of time. And so, we drown in political junk mail, campaign commercials, and voicemails to “remember to vote”.
Continue reading Gospel, Politics, And My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
Gospel Hope In A World Gone Crazy
The start of another year kicks off with yet another disappointing Presidential debate. More, Ridiculous banter, pathetic ridicule, and pre-planned talking points. Ugh!
In the midst of the presidential banner, the turn of the calendar also has me preparing sermons on racial unity and the Sanctity of Life. Sadly, in 2016, babies continue to be born clinging to life as a result of a botched abortion. Born living and breathing, these babies are then denied proper care and are left to die and ….it’s legal! Pouring over Psalms 139 and mingling among the massive statistics of dead babies leaves me angry, sad, numb, and oddly enough…. full of hope.
Welcome To The (Starbucks) Bandwagon
Ok, so I will jump on the bandwagon of being critical of the Christians, who have jumped on the bandwagon of being critical of secular society (in this case Starbucks), which creates reasons for secular society to jump on the bandwagon of being critical and dismissive of Christians in general.
How is that for a run on sentence?!?
Confused yet? Well, hang in there…
Image is Everything
In the early 90’s, tennis star, Andre Agassi endorsed a certain type of camera and did so with a catchy attitude. The “attitude” and the Cannon Rebel camera soared into the psyche of American culture. If you are old enough to remember the ad campaign, you will remember its’ slogan. “Image is Everything.”
Well Said…..Ravi Z!
Why The Planned Parenthood Video Should NOT Surprise Anyone, And Why It SHOULD Appall Everyone
Let’s get right to it.
1.) Not Surprised
I don’t think we should be surprised by the two undercover Planned Parenthood videos that have been released. When I first viewed the videos, I was speechless. What we see being discussed casually over a salad and wine is absolutely deplorable. Is it illegal? Yes! Is it amoral? Absolutely! Have we lost our minds as a society? Most certainly! But, is it surprising? I don’t think so.